The most interesting workshop looked at what product safety agencies will be focused on in 2012.

The U.S. market was covered by Kenneth Hinson, Executive Director of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Following are staff-proposed 2012 priorities, although he emphasized that they have not yet been approved by the Commission.

Work on potential testing and certification revisions. Opportunity to reduce 3rd party testing burden (P.L. 112-28). Small batch manufacturing exemption. ATV final rule.

A side note. The next ICPHSO meeting will be in Brussels, Belgium October 16-17, 2012. In 2013, there will be meetings in Arlington, Virginia and on the Gold Coast of Australia. Spain will host a 2014 meeting, followed by plans to return to Japan and China. ICPHSO organizers were encouraged by a successful Asia-Pacific Consumer Product Safety Symposium in Seoul, Korea in 2011.